The Takata recall refers to a series of global safety campaigns aimed at replacing airbags supplied by Japanese manufacturer Takata. The core of the problem lies in the inflator, the metal cartridge that contains the propellant responsible for inflating the airbag in a matter of milliseconds during a collision.
The Takata recall affects tens of millions of vehicles produced between the late 1990s and mid-2010s, across all categories (city cars, sedans, SUVs, sports cars).
Over time, especially in hot and humid climates:
- the airbag can explode like a grenade
- metal fragments are projected into the passenger compartment
👉 Dozens of deaths and hundreds of serious injuries have been officially reported.
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Takata used an ammonium nitrate-based propellant, which is highly sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity. As it ages, this compound can degrade, crack, or change density. When triggered, combustion becomes too rapid, internal pressure rises sharply, and the metal casing of the inflator can explode.
Instead of simply inflating the airbag, the inflator then shoots metal fragments into the passenger compartment, like grenade shrapnel. These fragments can seriously injure the driver or passengers, even in relatively minor collisions.
Tens of millions of vehicles from numerous brands are affected. Manufacturers and authorities have therefore launched massive recalls to replace Takata inflators with modified versions that are less sensitive to moisture and oxidation.